SPORTS: Jackets hope to pick up where they left off • Page 1B
The Sanford Herald THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010
SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
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LEE COUNTY
INSIDE
A fortune underground? Hundreds of citizens talk to experts about natural gas reserves under Sanford By CHELSEA KELLNER kellner@sanfordherald.com
LOOKING FOR A CHURCH? Check out the many different places of worship that Sanford has to offer in today’s Herald
SANFORD — As former geologists, Sanford couple Keith and Julie Merritt knew to be cautious when they received a letter promising rent and royalties for access to natural gas
that may lie beneath their 86 acres of Lee County farmland. “Oil and natural gas production is a very expensive and uncertain proposition,” Julie Merritt said. “People hear oil and gas drilling, and start thinking huge money, but it doesn’t always pan out.”
The Merritts were among 250 people who flocked to McSwain Extension Center Wednesday evening for information on how to deal with the discovery of natural gas under local land that has brought drilling companies flocking to the area. Lee County Exten-
sion Director Susan Condlin said the event is one of the Extension’s best-attended in recent years, thanks to the lure of cash coupled with the tricky legal issues involved in oil and natural gas drilling.
See Gas, Page 5A
Section C
SHARE OUR SHOES
GULF OIL SPILL
EDUCATION
LCS’ eyes on Raleigh as budget nears vote
BP APOLOGIZES, SETS UP $20 BILLION FUND President Barack Obama wrested a $20 billion compensation guarantee and an apology to the nation from British oil giant BP Wednesday, announcing the company would set up a major claims fund for Gulf residents
Superintendent says he’s ‘concerned, but optimistic’ about final funding totals
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By CHELSEA KELLNER kellner@sanfordherald.com
TELEVISION WESLEY BEESON/The Sanford Herald
Ethel Peakes donates shoes she has picked up from local residents in Lee County. As of May, Peakes had collected more than 1,400 pairs. Drop boxes will be put in place throughout Sanford. Donated new and used shoes are going to earthquake victims in Haiti and for the flood victims in Tennessee.
‘CLEVELAND’ HOT, AND HAS TIES TO ‘GOLDEN’ It’s a sitcom about four single women of a certain age, portrayed by an ensemble that includes Betty White.“Hot in Cleveland,” which debuts this week on TV Land, is not officially “The Golden Girls” redux. But the similarities don’t end with the set up. Page 9A
NATION JOBLESS AID BILL HITS A SNAG IN SENATE President Barack Obama’s plea for more stimulus spending as insurance against a double-dip recession hit a roadblock in the Senate on Wednesday, the victim of election-year anxiety Page 8A
STATE FOURTH MAY HAVE FIREWORKS AFTER ALL A state law passed after the July 4 blast on Ocracoke Island mandated safety training for those who prepare the displays, but some warn the rule could limit fireworks shows this Independence Day. Page 7A
Vol. 80, No. 140 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
FROM THE SOLE Sanford woman a driving force in Raleigh-based organization that collects shoes for the needy By ALEXA MILAN amilan@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — People’s closets are full of them — sneakers, dress shoes, flip flops. Some people wear their favorite pairs daily and leave the rest of their footwear in the back of the closet without a second thought. But others don’t have that luxury. When Jennifer Pierce traveled to Haiti after it was devastated by January’s earthquake, she was shocked
WANT TO HELP? If you have shoes to donate to Share Our Shoes, call Ethel Peakes at 774-6338. To find out more about Share Our Shoes, visit them on the Web at www.shareourshoes.org.
to see people walking around wearing shoes they pieced together out of plastic and string. “A lot of people don’t realize that there are a lot
of people out there without shoes, period,” Pierce said. When Pierce realized it, she founded Share Our Shoes, a Raleigh-based organization that gathers new or gently used shoes and gives them to people in need. “Basically it’s a way for people to give and not have to reach in their wallets,” Pierce said. Since the organization began in 2008, first as Shoes-
See Shoes, Page 6A
SANFORD — As state legislators inch toward a final budget decision in Raleigh, local school officials are taking steps to protect Lee County classrooms. At stake is how the North Carolina General Assembly will choose to allocate scarce funds during a statewide budget crunch. Superintendent Jeff Moss met with Sen. Bob Atwater (DChatham) last week to discuss the importance of adequate funding for K-12 education. While Atwater was “tightlipped” about the current budget process, Moss called himself concerned but still optimistic. “We understand the economic situation in the state, but believe we’ve taken the brunt of most of the cuts over the past few years,” Moss said. “I know the universities are yelling at the top of their lungs right now, but we’ve cut to the bone, and additional cuts will end up cutting out necessary services to the classroom.”
See Schools, Page 6A
ONLINE
CHATHAM COUNTY
Late Tuesday storms leave damage By ALEXA MILAN amilan@sanfordherald.com
SILER CITY — A forceful gust of wind destroyed one Siler City family’s home late Tuesday night when it brought a tree crashing through the roof. A thunderstorm brought 65 mph winds to a small area near Siler City Snow Camp Road,
HAPPENING TODAY n Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and picnic supper and “Function at the Junction” at Depot Park. This free outdoor family event starts at 7 p.m. and includes a variety of music throughout the summer. For more information, visit downtownsanford.com.
yanking street signs out of the ground and uprooting the large oak tree that damaged the family’s house. “It did a lot of damage to the roof and ceiling,” said Tony Tucker, director of Chatham County Emergency Management. “It didn’t come down all the way to the floor.” All four family members
were able to get out of the house safely, and no one was injured. “They had just finished dinner, and the mother just happened to look outside,” said Abby Cameron, community services coordinator for the Lee and Chatham County office of
See Storms, Page 6A
High: 92 Low: 70
The message boards have lit up with talk about the Bob Etheridge YouTube video. Sign up for a free account and join in the conversation at sanfordherald.com
INDEX
More Weather, Page 10A
OBITUARIES
SCOTT MOONEYHAM
Sanford: Virginia LeMien; James McLeod, 74; Evelyn Nicholas, 80; Billy Richmond, 63 Broadway: Dora Patterson, 90 Raleigh: Annie Burden, 85
Cal Cunningham has developed the skills he will need to unseat Sen. Burr
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Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 6B Classifieds ....................... 8B Comics, Crosswords.......... 7B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 6B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B